Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He is also Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College. His compositions have been performed worldwide.

We cannot exaggerate our indebtedness to Dr. Julian’s “Dictionary of Hymnology,” a monumental work, without which we could not have reached the high standard of accuracy, as to both texts and authorship, which we set before us when entering upon our labours.
— Committee for “New English Hymnal” (1906)

OHN 15 CONTAINSSOME OF THEMOST well known lines of scripture, especially the first verse, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” Yet, there are a few lines that I find intriguing—ones that are often overlooked—lines that are calling us to serve God.

John 15: 2: He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

So it seems we are pruned in order to bear more fruit. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being pruned. I don’t like improperly imposed limitations, dealing with challenging personalities or situations—all the while knowing that I perhaps inflict difficult challenges on others. As musicians of liturgical music, challenges to the integrity of the sacred liturgy and sacred music are never in short supply.

But pruned we are again and again. Somehow, we must refine our people skills and find creative ways to catechize. Somewhere in all of these challenges we often refine our musical skills just when we thought our music was threatened. Ultimately, this pruning leads to a refinement of the soul.

So another verse I find most intriguing is John 15: 16: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…”

That God chooses us to serve leads to a bigger picture. What is our path in life? What does God want us to do in order to serve Him? God indeed, while often painfully slow in his response to our prayer (and for good reason), knows what is best for us and always answers our pleadings. This leads to Psalm 16 (15):11:

“You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.”

There are times in life when our path is uncertain or does not make sense in the eyes of humankind. But in verse nine, the psalmist gives us hope:

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